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High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) and its Effects on Your Overall Health

by Wayne Wargo (PenWay.org)

Did you know that blood pressure is generally lower in the summer and higher in the winter? This is because cold temperatures cause the blood vessels to narrow (constrict), which increases blood pressure since more pressure is needed to force blood through a narrower space. Blood pressure changes from minute to minute and is affected by activity and rest, body temperature, diet, emotional state, posture, and medications.

High blood pressure (Hypertension) is sometimes referred to as the 'silent killer' because it usually has no noticeable warning signs or symptoms. Blood pressure is not defined by a universally accepted value. High blood pressure is a risk for both heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure is common, but many people don't know they have it. Once it occurs, it usually lasts a lifetime. To find out if you do have high blood pressure visit your healthcare professionals. A blood pressure monitor is relatively inexpensive and takes only minutes to use and yields immediate results. You should keep a log of your results at least twice a day, in the morning and evening hours. It also a good idea to send your monthly results to your doctor.

High blood pressure is the force in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure) and when the heart is at rest (diastolic pressure). Each time the heart beats (about 60-70 times a minute at rest), it pumps out blood into the arteries. Blood pressure changes during the day. It is lowest as you sleep and rises when you get up. It also can rise when you are excited, nervous, or active. Although the body can tolerate increased blood pressure for months or even years, eventually, the heart may enlarge, which is a major factor in heart failure.

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm hg). A typical normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm hg, or 120 over 80. The first number represents the pressure when the heart contracts (systolic) and the second number represents the pressure when the heart relaxes (diastolic). Blood pressure greater than 140/90 mm hg is considered high. An elevation of the systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart disease.

High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the first- and third-leading causes of death among Americans. High blood pressure is the third leading cause of death in the world. Lowering it can cut the chances of heart attack by 15%, strokes by 38% and heart failure by an overwhelming 50%!

The latest full statistics are from 2005 and the overall death rate from high blood pressure, percentage-wise, was 18.4. High blood pressure was listed as a primary or contributing cause of death in over 300,000 of the more than 2.4 million U.S. deaths in 2005. There still seem to be over 20% of people that are not aware of this condition. About 45% of persons have high blood pressure under control, while the other 55% do not. The risk of having high blood pressure is too important for someone not to be tested on a regular basis. The increase of other risks being brought on is another factor to consider and be aware of. Approximately 50% of people having first-time heart attacks and two-thirds of people having first-time strokes suffer from high blood pressure. The cause of 90-95 percent of the cases of high blood pressure has not been determined.

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